Norway may once again return to discussing the issue of joining the European Union. The country's authorities acknowledge that the changed global situation and the strengthening of the EU's trade influence are prompting Oslo to reassess its previous approaches to relations with Brussels.
Norway is considering revising its relationship with the European Union amid growing instability in the world. According to the Financial Times, the current conditions for interaction with the EU appear more attractive to Oslo than before. This was stated by Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide to the publication.
According to the newspaper, after oil, seafood remains one of the country's most important export goods. The Foreign Minister reminded that in the referendums of 1972 and 1994, Norwegians rejected the idea of joining the EU largely due to concerns about the future of the fishing industry and agriculture. Eide noted that the discussions at that time were so heated that they often led to conflicts within families and deeply divided society for a long time.
The minister pointed out that the era of relative stability during which those referendums took place is now in the past. Today, in his words, the world has become much more unpredictable, which is why Norway has to reassess its relationship with the European union, despite its participation in the European Economic Area since 1994.
According to the diplomat, over the past three decades, many advantages of the previous model of cooperation have lost their relevance, while the areas of EU activity that the country once opted out of are gaining increasing importance.
Eide also emphasized that the policies of the United States and China are forcing the European Union to more actively use trade regulation tools. Norway had previously preferred to distance itself from such mechanisms.
Although the country's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister support the idea of joining the EU, the ruling party is not yet ready to initiate a new referendum. According to polls, the majority of Norwegians still oppose EU membership.
The changing global political and economic situation is prompting Norway to reconsider many previous decisions. However, despite the interest of some political elites in closer integration with the EU, the issue of full membership remains extremely sensitive for the country and currently lacks support from the majority of citizens.
